1982

<Movie>  Ninja Wars (Japan, “Iga Ninpo-cho”, a/k/a “Black Magic Wars”, ”Iga Magic Story”)
Director:  Mitsumasa Saito
His role:  Jotaro Fuefuki (main role)

Ninja/martial arts movie.

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1982

<Movie>  Ninja in the Dragon’s Den (Hong Kong, “Long zhi ren zhe”, “Ryu no Ninja”)
Director:  Corey Yuen
His role:  Jin-wu  (main role)

Ninja/martial arts movie made in Hong Kong.

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1982

<TV series>  “Kage no Gundan III”  (Japan)
[Literal translation:  Shadow Warriors III]
Broadcaster:  KTV
His role:  Sasuke

Ninja/martial arts drama.

1981

<Movie>  Roaring Fire (Japan, “Hoero! Tekken”)
Director:  Norifumi Suzuki
His role:  Joji Hibiki  (main role)

1981

<Movie>  Burning Brave (Japan, “Moeru Yusha”)
Director:  Toru Tsuchihashi
His role:  Joe  (main role, pure young man who grew up in Africa)

Action piece about a few men fighting to reveal the fact about a chemical weapon manufacturer.  Story aside, there are lots of “young Hiro” observing points; in addition to his usual “physical effortlessness” and starry-eyed good looks, watch out for his horse back riding skills (amazing!), African-inspired (??) dance (the 80’s, baby!), a background song sung by himself, and some early signs of eventual sexy god.

1981

<Movie>  “Bokensha Kamikaze” (Japan)
Director:  Tatsuichi Takamori
His role:  Akira Hoshino  (supporting role)

1981

<Movie>  Samurai Reincarnation (Japan, "Makai Tensho")
Director:  Kinji Fukasaku
His role:  Iga-no-Kirimaru (supporting role, young ninja who rises from his death for the revenge to their rival ninja group)

It may sound a bit odd combination, but it is a "fantasy" "cult" "samurai" and "ninja" movie, set in the 17th century.  The leader of the group who revived for their revenge is an actual historical figure, Christian rebel leader Shiro Amakusa (played by voluptuous Kenji Sawada), and adds some Western black magic taste to this samurai battles.  Hiro's ninja figure is almost a sequel of "Yagyu Conspiracy", and is too nice and hadsome for a phantom.  The most notable among Hiro fans is his kiss scene with Sawada.  Despite the black-magic-like setting, the visuals are impressively beautiful, with the gorgeous costumes designed by the popular Japanese traditional puppet designer Jusaburo Tsujimura and the beautiful scenaries.

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1980

<Movie>  Shogun’s Ninja (Japan, “Ninja Bugeicho-Momochi Sandayu”)
Director:  Sonny Chiba
His role:  Takamaru  (main role, ninja)

Ninja/martial arts movie.  Hiro was featured as the main role for the first time.

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1980

<Movie>  The Terrible Couple (Japan, “Tonda Kappuru”)
Director:  Shinji Somai
His role:  Isozaki (small role)

Love comedy.

1979

<Movie>  Renegade Ninjas  (Japan, “Sanada Yukimura no Boryaku”, a/k/a “Death of the Shogun”, “The Shogun Assassins”)
Director:  Sadao Nakajima
His role:  Miyoshi Izo Nyudo  (supporting role, one of the "10 brave warrior of Sanada")

Samurai drama based on the famous battle between the Tokugawa Shogun and the Toyotomi family.  Yukimura Sanada (historical figure and supposedly has no relationship with Hiro's last name) helped the Toyotomis to realize his own ambition, and Hiro plays one of his top warriors.

1979

<TV Series>  Swords of the Space Ark  (Japan, “Uchu karano Message  Ginga Taisen”, a/k/a “Message from Outer Space”, “Space Ninja: Sword of the Space Ark”)
His role:  Gen Hayato (main role)

1978

<Movie>  Message from the Space: Galactic Wars  (Japan, “Uchu kara no Messeji”)
Director:  Kinji Fukasaku
His role:  Shiro Hongo (supporting role, space gangster turns into a warrior)

Samurai sword action in "Star Wars" costumes and settings by Director Fukasaku and Sonny Chiba's Japan Action Club members.

1978

<Movie>  Yagyu Clan Conspiracy  (Japan, “Yagyu Ichizoku no Inbo”)
Director:  Kinji Fukasaku
His role:  Hayate (supporting role, young ninja)

A story of the dark battles surrounding Tokugawa’s third Shogun in the 17^th century. This is Director Fukasaku’s first period drama, generously starring many big samurai stars, including legendary Toshiro Mifune and Hiro’s action mentor Sonny Chiba.  Hiro re-debuted as Hiroyuki Sanada after taking a few years off from the screen, and established himself as up-and-coming action hero.

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Earlier Years

Hiro also has appeared in numerous movies and TV dramas as a child actor "Hiroyuki Shimozawa".
The first movie he acted in was "Rokyoku Komoriuta" in 1965, when he was 5 years old, with Sonny Chiba as his father.